STAND. COM. REP. NO. 271-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2273
                                     H.D. 1



Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.B. No. 2273 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII CHILDREN'S TRUST
     FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a dedicated funding
source from the general fund to subsidize the Hawaii Children's
Trust Fund (Trust Fund) for five years in an amount equal to an
unspecified percentage of the general fund and to be matched by
nonstate funding sources.

     Your Committee received testimony from the Good Beginnings
Alliance, The Institute For Family Enrichment, Parents and
Children Together, Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, Ua Nani O Ke
Anuenue Respite Care Service, and a  concerned citizen in support
of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted
testimony in opposition to this measure.

     The Trust Fund was established in 1993 to serve as a medium
for a public-private partnership for family strengthening to
prevent child abuse and neglect.  The Trust Fund serves as a
repository for funds from the federal and state governments, as
well as contributions from private businesses, foundations,
individuals, and other interested parties.  The Hawaii Community
Foundation, which has been successfully managing charitable
endowments since 1916, administers the Trust Fund.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 271-00
                                 Page 2

 
     The Legislature finds that the prevalence of child abuse and
neglect is indisputable.  A cost benefit analysis demonstrates
that effective abuse and neglect prevention programs that
strengthen families are less costly than treating children that
have been abused or neglected.  Hawaii was one of the last states
to establish a children's trust fund; however, no appropriation
has been made to the Trust Fund.  An appropriation of $500,000
from the Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Special Fund to the Trust Fund
would ensure that a more complete safety net is put in place for
children and their families.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by substituting the
five annual appropriations from the general fund and the matching
requirement with one appropriation of $500,000 from the Tobacco
Settlement Special Fund to the Trust Fund.  Your Committee has
further amended this bill to correct certain typographic,
technical, and stylistic errors. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 2273, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2273, H.D.
1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Human Services
                                   and Housing,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair